The NHL and NHLPA have a previously scheduled meeting on Friday morning, which now is expected to include the next steps in an investigation into what exactly happened when Columbus head coach Mike Babcock asked to view phones and/or photographs of several Blue Jackets players.
As you can expect, everyone’s trying to be tight-lipped as the process continues, but here are some of the things we can determine:
• Marty Walsh and NHLPA Assistant Executive Director Ron Hainsey met with Blue Jackets players in Columbus, a meeting described by several sources as “intense.” On Tuesday, when the story broke from Paul Bissonnette on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, both the NHL and NHLPA initially were satisfied with the explanations from Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau. However, it appears things changed for both later that night when information was received that some of the younger Blue Jackets were uncomfortable with what had occurred. That appears to be the major focus of the investigation.
• Columbus promised to co-operate fully in the process. Babcock attended the Traverse City prospects tournament, where the Blue Jackets defeated Toronto 7-3. Jordan Dumais, Adam Fantilli, Denton Mateychuk and Hunter McKown all had multi-point games.
• During previous stops in Detroit and Toronto, Babcock made similar requests to see phones and/or photos with executives, coaches and players. Some Maple Leafs players during the coach’s time there were contacted — asked how they felt about the practice.
We will see how this progresses over the next 24 hours.
